Light-weight wreck-resistant vehicle

ABSTRACT

A vehicle, especially adapted for marine use, having strong, lightweight walls, comprising gas-containing thin-metal, cylindrical or corrugated cans, between skins, and surrounded by foamed plastic. These receptacles are: sealed pipes or tubes; or rows of aligned short cans, end-to-end glued together. The skins may be: metal sheets, epoxy-glued or brazed to the cans; or metallic mesh attached to the cans by brazing or glue and/or bolts, coated with stucco. Optionally the rows comprise short cans of slightly different diameters, with the smaller cans nested and glued within rims of the larger cans; and skin-holding bolts are between opposite smaller cans in adjacent pairs of the rows. Sheet rubber is glued to the outer skin of stucco or metal.

United States Patent lnventor Alvin Edward Moore 916 Beach Blvd.,Wavcland, Miss. 39576 Appl. No. 794.092 Filed Jan. 27. 1969 PatentedAug. 3, 1971 LIGHT-WEIGHT WRECK-RESISTANT VEHICLE 114/69 X l14/0.5 F

Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix ABSTRACT: A vehicle, especially adaptedfor marine use, having strong, lightweight walls, comprisinggas-containing 35 Claims, 21 Drnwin F' g gs thin-metal, cylindrical orcorrugated cans, between skins, and LS. urrounded foamed lastic Thesereceptacles are; sealed 1 4/05 pipes or tubes; or rows of aligned shortcans, end-to-end glued llt.Cl. B63b 43/10, together The skins may meta]sheets, epoxy glued or 56% 35/00 brazed to the cans; or metallic meshattached to the cans by Field 01 Search ll4/0.5,0.5 brazing or glueand/o bglts coated with stucco, Optionally 68,69 the rows comprise shortcans of slightly different diameters, R f CM with the smaller cansnested and glued within rims of the e larger cans; and skin-holdingbolts are between opposite UNITED STATES PATENTS smaller cans inadjacent pairs of the rows. Sheet rubber is 3,063 6/1943 Long 1 14/69glued to the outer skin of stucco or metal.

L l: 2 7 A 96 l n 4 8 o 90 Z l i 22 a o 6 9 o ''"'EI;;1\ I z 36 I "'I 3'y z z I l g ,2 L r LIGHT-WEIGHT WRECK-RESISTANT VEHICLE This inventionpertains to lightweight and strong vehicles. Although its basicstructure may be utilized in land vehicles, space vehicles and aircraftor hovercraft that takeoff from land, it is preferably incorporated in awater-traversing vessel, such as a motorboat, cabin cruiser, houseboat,small yacht, barge, lifeboat, raft, hovercraft, or flying boat.

Such vehicles of currently standard construction are hard to control ordangerously fragile in rough water; or else-as in known concrete orsteel boats-they are extremely heavy, very expensive, cumbersome, andrequire much power in their propulsion. In view of these facts, thisinvention has, among other objects, the following objectives: (l) arelatively lightweight but extremely strong vehicle, preferably adaptedto float at least part of the time in water; (2) such a vehicle havingsubstantially rigid, inner, load-carrying structure and outer resilientstructure that protects its walls against fracture in crashes or storms;(3) a water-traversing vehicle having walls comprisingstrength-providing, buoyant, tubular receptacles of rigid material; (4)a vehicle having walls comprising strength-providing, buoyant, sealedcans; (5) a vehicle having walls comprising strength-providing, sealed,corrugated tubes of substantially rigid material; (6) a vehicular float,comprising cans or corrugated tubes, adapted to be located below aload-carrying cabin and to support the cabin and its bottom deck abovewater level when the vehicle is moving at cruising speed thru water; and(7) a vehicular float of this type having a lower surface that isinclined downward from its forward portion to its after edge.

Other objects and the specific structure of the invention will becomeapparent from the following specification, and from the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the invented vehicle, having forward and afterportions broken away and in section along a horizontal plane between theupper and lower decks of the main loadcarrying space.

FIG. 2 is a view in vertical section along the planes indicated by lines2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detail view, in section from a vertical plane that istransverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and located at aportion of the tubular outer wall which is not above one of the floats.

FIG. 4 is a detail view of a portion of one of the tubular wall elements(of a row of joined cans) before it is assembled with other elements ina wall, in section along a plane thru the longitudinal axis of the row.

FIG. 4A is a detail view of one of the cans of the preferred corrugatedtype, shown in longitudinal section and partly broken away, the canbeing filled with foam plastic as an optional feature in lieu of gas.

FIG. 5 is a detail view, in section from a vertical plane that istransverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, showing a variationof the main cabin deck that is adapted to provide extraordinary strengthand buoyancy under shocks of extremely rough conditions, and furthershowing a junction between the main deck and a wall of one of thefloats.

FIG. 6 is a detail view, partly broken away, indicating, when consideredas in top plan view, the frame of a horizontal deck (and, whenconsidered as in elevational view, of a vertical vehicle wall that isoptionally different from that of FIGS. 3 and 5), the frame being shownbefore stucco or like material is applied to the metallic mesh.

FIG. 7 is a view in section from the plane 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a detail, sectional, plan view, partly broken away, of analternative, corrugated form of the tubular receptacles, shown as fixedbetween sheets of mesh that are parallel to the longitudinal axes of thereceptacles.

FIG. 9 is a detail, sectional view of corrugated tubular receptacles,shown as broken away in their middle parts and as fixed between sheetsof mesh that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of thereceptacles. These receptacles may be of the elongated or short type ofthe cans.

FIG. 10 is a detail, vertical view in fore-and-aft section 7 along anexterior wall of FIG. 1, showing the upper side decks of the vehicle asoptionally shaped in winglike fashion aerodynamically curved to exert alifting force on the craft.

FIG. 1 l is a detail, sectional view from a vertical plane along andthru the longitudinal axis of the preferred, skilike form of float.

FIG. 12 is a detail view, in section from a vertical plane that istransverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle showing a preferredform of the main deck, and further showing a junction between the maindeck and a wall of one of the floats.

FIG. 13 is a plan view (on a scale reduced from that of FIG. 1) of anoptional form of the invented vehicle, shown as partly in section alonga horizontal plane.

FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of one form of the vehicle of FIG.13.

FIG. 15 is a detail view, in section from a vertical plane thru ajunction between one form of the main deck and the central, larger floatof FIG. 14, this plane being normal to the longitudinal axis of thecraft and at the middle of the float.

FIG. 16 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, of the bottom part of anoptional form of either the central float or one of the side floats ofFIG. 14; this view is in section from a plane normal to the longitudinalaxis of the craft and at the middle of a float; in this float theconcrete parts of the float walls are coated with rubber or otherwaterproofing applied in liquid or pasty form.

FIG. 17 is a detail, sectional, reduced-scale view of a port or door.

FIG. 18 is a detail view of part of an alternative type of deck or wallframe, in section along a plane that is transverse to the tubularreceptacles.

FIG. 19 is a detail, sectional view from the plane 19-19 of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a detail view in section from a plane along the axes of twocans, joined together in an alternative of the rows of cans.

The vehicle, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises: a central cabinstructure which provides upper and lower load-carrying spaces-1 and 2that are separated by a deck, 3; a top deck, 4, of this centralstructure, having a hatch 5 leading from the top deck to the inside ofthe top cabin; lower top decks 6, one on each side of the cabin innerdeck 3; cabin structures beneath decks 6 that provide load-containingspaces 7; lateral inner decks 8, beneath spaces 7; side, forward floats9, below and fixed to decks 8; and central, after float 10, below andfixed to the main deck 11 of the cabin structure. Each of theseabovenumbered members of the craft comprises tubular receptacles of thegeneral type indicated in FIGS. 3 to 12 and 15 to 20. Any of thespecific forms of the cans shown in these lastnamed figures may be usedin building the strong, lightweight boat or aircraft frame of FIG. 1.

The vehicles sidewall, as shown in FIG. 3, comprises a plurality ofadjacent rows of cans, with each row having a number of the cans heldtogether in end-to-end relation. These cans may be made of rubber orsynthetic plastic (for example of substantially rigid plastic,reinforced with asbestos or fiberglass); but preferably and as shown inFIG. 3 they are of sheet metal (for example, thin sheet iron, tinnediron or aluminum alloy), and may be made by known methods of manufactureof tin cans.

The walls or decks of the form of the invented vehicle shown in thedrawings optionally may comprise sealed tubular receptacles of any ofseveral different types. As indicated in FIGS. 2 to 5, 7, 10 to 12, 15,16 and 17, the receptacles may have cylindrical walls that are straightin cross section. Or they may have corrugated walls of the typeindicated in FIG. 4A (each having walls that are circular in crosssections along planes normal to the can's axis) or of the type shown inFIGS. 8, 9 and 18 (each having walls that are corrugated in crosssections that are normal to its axis). They may be filled with gas atatmospheric pressure or, optionally, under pressure above that of theatmosphere-for instance, in the range of 5 to 15 pounds per square inch;this gas, for example, may be air, helium, hydrogen, or hydrogen mixedwith a combustion-inhibiting gas. Or, as indicated in FIG. 4A, they maybe filled and reinforced with insulating foamed plastic I2for example,with polyurethane plastic foam, which may be flexible but preferably issubstantially rigid.

Such reinforcing, gaseous foam plastic is preferably under a smallabove-atmospheric pressure. One way of accomplishing this pressurizedplastic filling is to insert thru a temporary end opening of the cansufficient amounts of the two liquids which form such gaseous foam toinsure that the cellular gas of the plastic is under the desired smallpressure and then to tightly close the opening against the pressure ofthe formed foam. This end opening may be a hole in the end cap or in atube fixed to the cap which is quickly and tightly plugged after the twofoaming liquids are poured thru it. Or the can may have a separable lidof the type used in common paint cans, in which event the liquids may bepoured into the large opening in the can and the lid then quicklyclamped into place.

The foam plastic 12 of FIG. 4A is there shown as an optional featurewhich also may be optionally used as a reinforcing and insulatingmaterial in any of the other disclosed tubular receptacles. But when thecans are corrugated, as shown in FIGS. 4A, 8 and 9, and as optional inthe other figures, the corrugations present so much strength againstshock that ordinarily the plastic filling is not needed asreinforcement, although in some installations it is desirable asinsulation, as well as providing extra strength.

The inventors currently preferred lightweight, strengthprovidingreceptacle has corrugated walls. The corrugations may be either of thetype shown in FIG. 4A or that shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Preferably,therefore, the tubular containers shown in each of the figures have suchcorrugated walls and are filled with gas. In boats that do not fly, airis currently preferred as this gas, and it is preferably underatmospheric pressure. But in flying boats or hovercraft the gas used ispreferably helium, optionally under pressure above that of theatmosphere.

An assembled, glued row of the shorter cans, such as is shown in FIGS. 3to 5, 12, 15 and the upper part of FIG. 16, have some advantages overelongated cans of the type shown at 14 in FIG. 2, optionally indicatedat 16 in FIG. 9, 18 in FIG. 10, and 20 in FIG. 11. The glue that isbetween the end caps of the short cans is very strong, and preferably isepoxy-resin cement or putty, comprising plastic and a hardener, whichsets into a firm solid that has strength comparable to that of steel.With such glue firmly bonding each juxtaposed pair of the end caps, thetwo caps together with the cement between them form a very strong joint;and the thus-formed lightweight and buoyant wall or deck row stronglyresists lateral shock and bending of the row at each junction of itscans.

The vehicle illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, utilizing structural detailsindicated in FIGS. 3 to 12 and 15 to 20, is preferably built inaccordance with the following steps of manufacture (here described withparticular reference to FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 12):

I. Pieces of plywood are laid flatwise on a level floor with their edgescoated with epoxy resin or other strong cement or putty and abuttingeach other. Preferably a strip of paper is put on the floor beneath eachpair of the contacting edges and the glue is then troweled and forcedinto the small space between the edges and leveled. When the glue sets aflat, unitary plywood piece of greater area than the desired size of themain-deck plywood has been formed.

2. This unitary piece is then curvingly sawed in the desired generaldeck form or deck-piece, which in FIG. 1 is illustrated as in streamlineform, in FIGS. 3 and 5 is indicated by the numeral 22, and in FIG. 12and 24. Holes are now sawed in the plywood for the hatchways thru themain cabin-deck structure to the interior of the lower floats which areto hold useful loads.

3. The plywood is covered entirely with a layer, 26, of reinforcingmetallic mesh, which may be of aluminum alloy, but

preferably (and especially in a nonflying vehicle) is steel network inthe form of expanded metal (metal lath) or hardware cloth. This mesh isforced down into continuous level contact with the plywood bylarge-headed nails or screws thru washers, and then glue (preferablyepoxy-resin putty) is troweled into the apertures of the mesh and on theplywood.

4. After the glue sets the laminated member of plywood and mesh isturned over and another layer of metallic mesh (28) is similarlyfastened and glued over the plywood. If the main deck of the cabin spaceis to comprise stuccoed, waterproofed concrete (of Portland cement andfine lightweight aggregate). indicated at 30 in FIGS. 5 and 12, thisapplication of glue or putty does not completely cover over the expandedmetal, but instead merely glues it to the plywood, so that the stucco(comprising fine aggregate-for example, cinders or granules of expandedclay or shale or pellets of foamed plastic)-will enter into the mesh,and the two will reinforce each other. But preferably waterproof putty(which may be epoxy putty, or the more economical plastic putty thatcontains aluminum powder and requires no hardener) is troweled over themesh and slightly covers the whole of it, as indicated in FIG. 3 at 28.This then forms the load-carrying surfaces of the lateral decks 8, inthe compartments 7, and the similar upper surface of the deck 1 l, inspace 2.

5. The resulting laminated deck structure of plywood and mesh is raisedand laid on sawhorses or benches; and holes for the rods 32 (or 34) aredrilled thru it. Many of these holes are along the streamline curve thruthe centers of the outer cabinwall cans or can rows 36 and 38 and thedistance along the curve between the centers of the holes is equal tothe outer diameter of the end caps of the larger cans 36 in the uprightcan rows. Similarly spaced holes are also drilled for the optional rodsof the rows of cans 40 that form the major part of the walls of centralcabins l and 2, for the optional rods 41 (or 42) on which are threadedthe cans 44 and 46 of the side floats 9, and for the optional rods ofthe cans 48 of the central after float 10. These optional float rods arenot all shown in FIG. 1 for the cans 44 and 48, as shown in this figure,may be either of the short type (joined in rows on rods) or of theelongated type (for example, those of FIG. 2, 10 or 11) which preferablyhave no central rods thru them, but are epoxy-resin-glued to the maindeck 11 and to the lower, float deck (50in FIG. I6).

6. The laminated deck structure is turned over and laid on benches thatare high enough and spaced apart enough to allow a workman to work underthe deck structure and between floats 9 and 10. The laminated structureis now upside down, with its puttied bottom mesh 26 now uppermost.

7. The rodlike elements 32 and 41 (or 34 and 42) are now verticallyplaced thru the holes along the outer periphery of the craft and thruthe holes outlining the walls of the floats and central cabin space 2.These elements may be elongated stove bolts (threaded at each end), butpreferably they are threaded rods. Such rods of three-sixteenth inch andone-quarter inch have been utilized by the inventor. After each rod isin place pairs of the nuts 52 and 54 are screwed on them, toward eachother and against the laminated structure, tightly clamping the rods tothe flat deck structure and in upright positions. These nuts aresufficiently deep that the top one of each pair of the nuts holds only asmall portion of the upper end of the rod, so that about half of thescrew-threaded bore of the nut is temporarily vacant, ready to be filledin later screw-threaded and glued union with the lower end of acabin-wall rod.

8. Next, there are threaded and glued on the rods the rodbraced ones ofthe main-deck cans: the cans 58 (to which the side-float cans are to beattached); and those cans 48 to which the sidewall cans of after float10 are to be attached. (This assembly is possible because the end capsof these cans have been previously, centrally drilled, to provide holesthat fit over the rods.) These rod-braced cans, forming part of thebuoyant, insulating, strength-providing portion of the cabin main deckare now strongly fastened to the laminated deck structure, either bynuts 59, covered with glue in short cylinders as shown in FIG. 5, oronly by glue 66 in short cylinders (as shown in FIG. 12).

9. The remaining ones of the tier (or tiers) of the main-deck cans arenow glued to the flat main cabin-deck structure, and

so to each other. Where the hatchways to float interiors are 58, 60 and62, may be made, preferably with a sheet of metallic mesh, 64, betweenthem, with the cans epoxy-resin glued to the mesh and to each other. 7

10. The cans of the sidewalls of the floats are now assembled and gluedto each other and to the rods. Although all the longitudinally alignedcans of each row of the float and cabin walls optionally may be of thesame diameter, preferably they are of slightly different diameters, andthe smaller cans 46 are nested in the recesses 64 of the larger cans 44.Between the adjacent end caps of each pair of the nested cans there isan element 66 which seals each of the adjacent rod holes and fastens thecans to each other and to the rod. This element comprises: a shortcylinder, which may be of molded plastic, or a cut piece of plastic orother pipe, or waterproofed cardboard; and strong glue. The cylinder isof slightly less length than the distance between the end caps, and theepoxy putty or other strong glue is mounded above the top of eachcylinder so that it penetrates the hole of the next upper can, and sealsaround the rod there when this next can is threaded on the rod andpressed downward.

l l. The next step is the construction of the inner skin means of thehollow floats that are to house useful loads. This skin means, indicatedin FIG. 2 at 67, may comprise an imperforate, curved sheet or sheetlikepiece of metal or plywood, glued to the cans; or, as shown in FIGS. 5,11, 12, and 16, it may comprise stucco, 68, of cement and fine,lightweight aggregate, impregnating and coating fabric, 68A, which maybe of fiberglass but preferably is metallic mesh (for example, expandedmetal, aluminum mesh or steel hardware cloth). The cement used is of atype that makes a hard stucco. It may be epoxy or other plastic glue,and the fine aggregate mixed with it may be aluminum powder or filingsin adhesive putty. In this step (I l) the inner skins of the float deck(of the general type indicated at 50 in FIG. 16) is also made of thehard stucco on fabric-preferably on metallic mesh.

12. When the craft of FIG. 1 is a boat and its propulsion is not of theaerodynamic type (such as preferably would be used in airboats,hovercraft or flying boats), the space within the sidewall cans 48 offloat 10 may house an engine or an hydraulic or electric motor, whichdrives a propeller that is abaft the bottom part of the float. But theboat as illustrated in FIG. 1 preferably is propelled by means ofengines or motors in floats 9; and so the central float 10 may comprisefloatstrengthening, buoyant filler elements. In this event, thisoptional step (12) comprises the placing and strongly gluing together ofthe filler elements. As shown, these comprise cans 69 andsmaller-diameter, gas-containing elements 70, which may be end-sealedlengths of thin-walled metallic or plastic pipe, but preferably arepieces of bamboo. The cans used may be of the elongated type indicatedin FIGS. 9 to 11, but for extra strength preferably are of the short,strong-jointed form indicated in FIGS. 4, 4A, 5, l6, l9 and 20. In thespaces between these annular unitary or composite tubular members of thelarger diameter the smaller pieces of bamboo or pipe are placed afterbeing coated with strong glue or putty, at least at their ends whichengage the main deck so that they become strongly glued to it.Preferably the smaller elements 70 are of slightly different diameters,and where feasible are forcibly jammed tightly between the cans.Optionally, the entire surfaces of these elements may be coated withepoxy-resin or other strong cement or putty either before or after theyare in position between the cans.

13. While the float walls are still upside down, the major portions ofthe bottoms of the floats are now constructed. The

bottom part of each of the pair of side floats 9, or of the centralfloat 10, optionally may be V-shaped in cross section, or flat andhorizontal, or inclined for ski-type lift, and flat as shown (or curvedin hydrodynamic fashion). When V-shaped, its sides may be curved, butpreferably and as shown in FIG. 16, they are straight. When the bottomof the central float or of each of the side floats operates as'a liftingwater ski it may be constructed as shown in FIG. 2 or in FIG. 11. Incross-sectional FIG. 2, the cans 72 are similar to cans 60 of FIG. 12and, like cans 60, they are strongly glued to the bottom flat deckstructure 74 of the interior of the float. This structure optionally maybe a metal sheet or plate; or it may be of the type shown in FIG. 12 at24-26-28. To the bottoms of the cans 72 numerous pieces 76 of bamboo orof sealed metallic or plastic pipe are glued or puttied. These piecesmay be of approximately the same small diameter and piled higher at theafter part of the float than at its bow, to build up and solidlystrengthen the inclined ski surface 78; or they may have selecteddiameters of considerably different sizes as indicated at 79 in FIG. 11.This figure shows optional substitution for the cans 72 of FIG. 2 of atier of the gas-containing pieces 80 of metal or plastic pipe or ofbamboo.

Optionally: the bottom parts of the three floats of FIGS. 1 and 2 areski-surfaced; the bottoms of the side floats 9 are considerably higherthan the bottoms of the central float 10; the floats 9 contain some ofthe heavier loads of the craft-forexample, batteries, gasoline engineand generator, air-conditioning equipment and/or tools; and the deeperfloat 10 is hollow (as in FIG. -16) and houses propulsion means, whichpreferably comprises an hydraulic or electric motor, receiving its powerfrom a source that is driven by a gasoline or diesel engine and islocated either in one of the side floats or on the deck 11. Thus, whenunderway the inclined surfaces of the side floats rise to a level notfar below the surface of the water (but sufflciently below that surfaceto aid in achieving directional stability); and the after float risesabout the same amount but its bottom stays well below the waterssurface, for efficient propulsion and directional stability.Alternatively and as shown in FIG. 2, the bottoms of the three floatsmay be at the same level and in practice they are so narrow in beam anddeep that the ski-surfaced bottoms of all three floats stay well belowthe water surface, thus achieving efficient directional stability andpropulsion. In each instance, the criterion of the optional arrangementof the floats is: their volumes, depths, and usual loads (with respectto the other loads of the craft) are so calculated and related that theski bottoms rise until the main deck is well clear of the water, but atleast one of them remains well below the waters surface.

In summary, and in connection with any of the optional float structuresand arrangements, this step (l3) comprises the following substeps: (A)placing and fastening on the bottoms of the float-deck gas-containingelements of step (ll) (that is, on the upright rows of cans and/orfiller elements) a flat float-deck structure (metallic and/orlaminated); (B) gluing to this structure upright cans and/or horizontalgas-containing elements 80; and (C) building up an inclined ski-bottomframe by gluing to the members of substep (B) gas-containing elements(pieces of bamboo or pipe).

14. The outer skins of the floats are now made. Those of the floatsidewalls may be substantially vertical like the outer sidewall skins ofthe float 10 as it is shown in FIG. 2, or inclined upward from thefloats bottom, like those of the side floats shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 5 orFIG. 12. In FIG. 2, element 82 comprises a rubber-coated piece of metalwhich is preferably of spring steel. This piece optionally may be ametallic sheet, or fibrous or metallic fabric (network) with itsapertures filled with impregnating flexible cement, for example, liquidrubber cement which sets in the air. The sidewalls outer surfacepreferably is sheet rubber that is glued to it; but optionally it may berubber that is molded in place on the sheet or fabric or is applied toit in liquid form and allowed to set in the air.

Between element 82 and the sidewall cans there is a space 83 which isfilled with air or other gas, or with resilient foamed plastic. In FIGS.and 12 the composite sidewall skin means comprises: metal rods 84,angled and screw-threaded at their upper and lower ends, and spacedalong the floats sidewall; a layer or ply of metallic mesh 85(preferably of expanded metal), fastened to rods 84; concrete stucco 86(or epoxyresin putty or cement or rubber), impregnating and coating hemesh 85; and an outer sheet of rubber, 87, glued to the stucco orrubber-impregnated mesh of the float sidewalls and bottoms, and to theunder side of the cabin main deck 11. Between the rods and sidewall cans(in FIG. 5 or FIG. 12) there are filler elements, which comprise foamedplastic 88 and plastic-reinforcing elements which may be wires, metallicmesh or fabric as shown at 89 in FIG. 5, or bowed, elongated,gas-containing elements 89, as shown in FIG. 12. The lightweight,float-strength-providing elements 89' may be bent, curved, plastic ormetal pipes (preferably of resilient material); or of steamed orhot-water-soaked and bent bamboo. The inventor currently prefers forthese elements 89 bamboo of small diameter, which is easily bent intothe desired curve, is stiffly resilient, strong and economical; andprefers that the plastic 88 be resilient (of liquid materials poured insitu between the outer and inner float skins), and that the outer skinsand rods be resilient. Thus stiffly resilient buffers for the floats areprovided.

Broadly, this method step 14) comprises: (A) strongly connecting to themain cabin-deck structure and to the float-deck structures upright rods84, well spaced apart in lines that generally conform with the desiredouter shape of the float; (B) fixing waterproof dense sheet material(metal sheet or elements 85--86) on the outside of the rods 84; and (C)gluing with epoxy or rubber cement an outer skin of flexible rubbersheet 87 to the rod-attached dense sheet material, to the under surfacesof the floats, and to the lower surface of the cabin main deck 11.

15. The two liquids which make the desired, known type of foamed plasticare now briefly mixed; the foaming mixture is poured or injected betweenthe inner and outer skin means of the floats; and after this pouring thehole is forcibly closed. Passage of the pressurized foam outside theskins and the tiers of cans and bamboo (or pipe) fillers is prevented bythis hole closure and by the imperforate structures of the skin meansand of the flat structures of the cabin decks; but the foam penetratesinto the spaces between the cans and filler elements. The resultingfoamed plastic 'quickly sets. Its chosen type is resilient if the outerskin means is resilient, and preferably is substantially rigid if theskin means lacks resiliency.

16. The sawhorses or benches are now removed from under the completedlower part of the craft, and it is turned over, and the float bottomsare rested on the floor.

[7. The next step is the construction of the central wall or structurethat braces the upper part of the float 10, shown in section in FIG. 1.This wall comprises, in effect, a continuation upwardof the tubulararticles of the float proper. Preferably the cans and fillers that arein line with the lower, similar, tubular articles of the after floatrise to the height of only one of the shorter cans; they are covered bya strong top, thus fonning a seat and/or shelf for supporting articles.When the float 10 is hollow (housing, for instance, a propulsive motor),this top comprises a hinged hatch; but when, as shown in FIG. 1, thefloat is solidly built its top is permanently attached to the upper cansand fillers. In either event, the top may be of wood or metal or ofstuccoed metal mesh. Each of the outer, upper cans 48 preferably isthreaded on and glued to a screwthreaded rod, 90, the bottom of whichmay be screwed and glued into the top half of a deck-contacting nut onthe aligned lower rod of a float can. Alternatively, the rods in theupper cans may be integral continuations of the lower rods, projectedfrom the flat deck structure in step (7), above. The upper cans 69 andpieces of bamboo or pipe 70 are now positioned and glued to the flatdeck structure; and the cans and On the after part of the bench or shelfthus formed a rudderoperating device 92 (a motor, wheel, lever or gears)is mounted; it moves the rudder by means of a rudder-post shaft that ispivoted in a stern-pipe, 92, of the float and float-bracing shelf.

18. This step is the construction of the side and upper walls of thecentral cabins l and 2. (If a craft of less height is desired, the uppercabin may be eliminated). The cans 40 are shown as glued to the deck,preferably with epoxy putty; but as pointed out above they may bethreaded and glued on rods that are screwed down and cemented in theupper halves of the bores of nuts 52. These cans are preferablycorrugated; they may be elongated, end-sealed tubes as indicated in FIG.5, 9 or 10, or optionally in FIG. 19; or they may be short and gluedtogether as indicated in FIG. 3, 4, 5,12, or optionally in FIG. 19.Preferably they are stacked as shown in FIG. 4, cemented by epoxy putty93; and to the end cap of the can 94 a short bolt is attached, by epoxyglue, soldering or brazing--or by extending the bolt thru the end capbefore it is soldered in place, housing the bolt head inside the can.When used at the bottom of a can row 40 the total length of the boltbetween the two end caps is less than indicated in FIG. 4, and'is suchthat when its threaded end is screwed and cemented in the top half of anut 52 the rim 95 is tightly jammed (and glued) .on the deck. Theopposite end can of each row 40 preferably has a similar bolt, similarlyattached to its end cap, but this bolt is preferably longer than therelative length that is indicated in FIG. 4. After all the can rows ofthe sidewall of compartment 2 are in place, they are tightly surroundedby a skin or sheet 96, of metal, or cement-stuccoed fabric (for example,Portland cement and fine aggregate on metallic mesh). The cans also aretightly bordered on their inside by such sheet material; and thruapertures in the two skins bolts 97 are extended, strongly clamping themto the larger cans when nuts are tightened on the bolts. These extendbetween some of the cans of the smaller diameter and are glue-puttiedover at their nuts and heads. When the curved sheets comprise expandedmetal or steel hardware cloth these bolts are extended thru the meshbefore the stucco is applied; when the sheets are of solid metal (forexample corrugated aluminum roll roofing) they are drilled for receptionof the bolts. The decks 3 and 4 are similar to the main cabin deck shownin FIG. 3. The upper sidewall can rows and skins are preferably madelike the walls of compartment 2. Before the top surface of the deck 4 isstuccoed the bolts at the upper ends of the can rows, of the generaltype shown in FIG. 4, are projected thru holes in the top-deckstructure, and nuts are screwed on the bolt ends, tightly clamping thecan rows to the deck structure. The projecting ends of the bolt, ifnecessary, are clipped off, and the nuts are glued and stuccoed over: Inthis step framed gaps are left in the walls in which doors arepreferably hinged, for passage between each pair of thepartition-separated cabins shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Preferably the canrows that are above and below the door frames are fastened to the framesby glue and by bolts of the type shown in FIG. 4. Two of the doors areindicated at 97A.

l9. Next the sidewalls of compartments 9', constituting an uppercontinuation and bracing means for the side floats 9 andvehicle-strengthening partitions in the cabin space, are built. Thesemay comprise elongated cans, but preferably the can rows 44 are made asindicated in FIG. 4. These rows are sheathed with skin means andbolt-clamped between the two skins as indicated in step (18). If thecraft is very narrow in beam these sidewalls preferably extend upwardonly a short distance above the main deck 1 l.

20. Next the outer sidewalls of the cabin structure are formed. Althoughthe can rows 36 may comprise elongated cans, preferably they are of thestacked, glued and bolt-ended shorter cans of the general type shown inFIG. 4; and they are preferably bolt-clamped to inner and outer skins ofthe type referred to in step 18). This outer wall structure iscontiguous to, and is mutually braced by, substantial portions of thesidewalls of compartments 9'; and preferably these portions are clampedto the outer walls by bolts or wires that extend between pairs of thesmall-diameter cans in both walls.

2 I The upper side decks 6 are now formed in the manner of constructionof the deck 4. They are clamped to the can rows by means of bolts of thegeneral type shown in FIG. 4.

22. Rubber sheeting, 98, is now glued by epoxy or rubber cement to thetops of decks 4 and 6, and preferably also to the outer cabin sidewalls,as indicated in FIG. 3, 5 or 12.

23. This step is the construction of a resilient bumper around themiddle of the craft. Lengths of gas-containing, resilient, rubber orplastic hose, 99, are glued with epoxy or rubber cement to the outersidewalls, with each length preferably encompassing the whole craft andhaving ends that are sealing glued together at the pointed stern. Whenthe desired number of such lengths are in place the set is covered attop, sides and bottom with rubber sheeting, 100, that is glued withepoxy or rubber cement to the hose. The gas in the hose lengths may behelium, but preferably is air; it may be pressurized, but preferably isat atmospheric pressure.

FIGS. 13 and I4 illustrate another, optional form of the vehicle thatmay be made by the general method that is described above. In thisspecies of the invention the side floats 102 have flat upright sides104, and although the floats optionally may e hollow and housepropulsion motors, they are preferably solidly constructed of cans andfiller elements in accordance with the general method of building thefloats as set forth above. Since horizontal planes thru the floatintersect the sides 104 in straight lines that are parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the craft little or no wave action is caused bythese sides. The skins, bolts, rods, tubular receptacles andsmall-diameter lengths of filler pipes or bamboo used in building theboat of FIGS. 13 and 14 may be of any of the types and arrangements ofthese structures that are shown in the drawings and described above.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the boat has a central superstructure 106which constitutes a continuation upward of the can rows of the centralcabin 108, and has a central float 110 in the form of a deep V, with anarrow, inclined-surface, ski-type bottom. Any type of hydrodynamic oraerodynamic propulsion may be used; but preferably an hydraulic motormounted on the deck inside this central float, receiving driving fluidfrom a pump and engine located in an upper part of the boat, drives apropeller that is abaft the bottom of the float. When underway, pressureon the inclined bottom surfaces of the three floats lifts the boat partof the way out of the water. Preferably the floats are sufficientlynarrow and have the proper volume to cause this lift to clear the mainlower deck 1 12 above the water level, while the ski-shaped bottoms ofthe floats 1 14 are at or near the waters surface, and the bottom offloat 1 is sufiiciently below the surface to keep the propellerefficiently below the water level.

If desired, the bottom of the float 1 10 may be pointed as indicated at116. Or this central float may be eliminated, making the boat acatamaran; in this event the side floats 114 preferably are deeper, andpreferably support propulsion motors. When a boat of only about 8 feetin total height is desired: the superstructure 106 preferably iseliminated; the flat bottom deck of the float 110 is used as a walkway;the main lower deck has an opening 118 in it (shown in FIG. 15) so thatthere is sufficient headroom for walking on the float deck; and storagespaces, seats and/or bunks are provided in the side spaces, above 112.In FIG. 15, no cans are shown in the deck, but preferably the structureof this deck is like that illustrated in FIG. 12. The hole 118 is framedby lumber (or metal), 120, glued with epoxy putty or cement to the deckstructure.

When a rodlike element is used to go thru and clamp the cans of a rowtogether, it may be a screw-threaded rod (threesixteenth inch andone-quarter inch threaded rods have been thus utilized by the inventor);or it may be an elongated, headed bolt having one screw-threaded end-ora rod having only its ends threaded. In any event, a nut is screwedtightly on each screw-threaded end of the element, tightly clamping thenested ends of the cans together.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an optional type of main-deck structure thatmay be made in any of the forms of the invented boat. This comprises:upright cans 60'; adhesive putty 122 and 124 that glues their tops andbottoms to sheets of metal mesh, 126 and 127; stucco, 128, of any of theabove described types, on at least the top piece of mesh, 126; a lowertier of elongated gas-containing tubular articles, 130, which may berows of sealed pipes or jointed and sealed short cans; and, below 130,layers of mesh, stucco and optional rubber sheeting of theabove-described types. If desired, this general form of wall structuremay be used in making any of the decks of the invented craft orpartitions of the general type indicated at 132 in FIG. 13. This wall asshown in FIG. 13 comprises two staggered upright tiers of tubulararticles (rows of sealed pipes or jointed and sealed short cans).

The wall structures illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 also optionally may beused in either decks or walls. In FIG. 8, two similar types ofcorrugated, sealed, gas-containing cans, 134 and 135, are shown. Thesemay be either pipes or the shorter cans that are glued and jointed in atubular article (or row). They may be made by extrusion of dense plasticor metal; but as shown they comprise pieces of corrugated aluminum orgalvanized iron, of the type that is commonly sold in sheets or rolls asroofing, that have been curvingly bent, with their joined edged brazed,soldered or epoxy-glued as indicated at 136 or 137. To each end of theresulting tube an end cap, comprising a tube-bordering flange, isbrazed, soldered or epoxy-glued. The flange 138 of can is rectangular;and the flange 140 of can 134 is in the form ofa disk. Other shapes offlanges may be utilized. For example, where the cans are to be joined inan arcuate wall the contacting areas of each pair of the flanges arepreferably a straight line (somewhat like the line of square-flangecontact 142, but making an angle with the mesh 144 that is not a rightangle), and the mesh and the bordering lines 146 of mesh and flange thenare in the desired arc.

Preferably, the contacting edges of the pairs of flanges areepoxy-glued, with the cement or putty covering their lines of contact.Alternatively, the flanges may be overlapped and bolted (or riveted)and/or glued together. The bolts 148, extended thru the mesh beforestucco is applied to it, tightly clamp it against the flanges.

After the mesh is stuccoed foamed-plastic liquids are poured thru aclosable hole into the spaces around the cans and bolts. It is theinventors intention to thus form insulating, wall-strengthening foamedplastic between imperforate skins in all the spaces around the cans andsmall-diameter filler elements that are indicated in the drawings. Thegas in any of the disclosed cans (for example, air or helium) optionallymay be pressurized.

In FIG. 9 (a view in section along a plane that is parallel to the axesof the tubular articles shown), the gas-containing cans 16, shown aspartly broken away, may be elongated or short. The end caps and flanges150 are shown as optionally attached to the two parallel sheets of mesh,152, by epoxy putty 154 and/or bolts 156. And the flanges at thewall-interior junction of pairs of the cans are epoxy-glued and/orbolted together. In the top part of this figure, the wall-interior endcaps of four juxtaposed cans are shown as joined by a single bolt, 158.The end caps of one pair of coaxial cans have semicircular cutout ordrilled-out recesses that fit around half of the bolt and join in acircle with like recesses of the other pair of coaxial cans. These endcaps are further fastened together by epoxy or other strong putty, 160.

FIGS. 18 and 19 show another way of sealing the cans and attaching themto spaced skins, this method being of especial use in connection withelongated cans in an upright wall, such as an outer or interior sidewallof the craft. The can I62 indicated in FIG. 19 is at first open at itstop, and resting on deck wire-mesh 164, which is supported and glued onthe imperforate plate 166 of metal or plywood. While the can is held inposition and its top is open, epoxy or other strong, dense glue ispoured thru it, and around it, forming the imperforate seal, 168, whichstrongly attaches the can to the mesh and plate and seals the bottom ofthe tube. After the desired number of upright tubes are placed in thewall in the general arrangement indicated in FIG. 18, the upper ends ofthese cans are sealed and attached to an imperforate sheet of plastic,plywood or metal. One way of achieving this upper seal is to heavilycoat this sheet with epoxy or other strongly adhesive putty and pressthe sheet down on the open can top. Another way is to weld a metal plateover the open tops. If desired, a layer of wire-reinforced stucco I70and/or an outer skin of sheet rubber may be added to either the top orthe bottom of this wall.

FIG. 20 illustrates a method of strongly connecting the end caps of cansof the same diameter. Preferably the cans of a row (or of a pair) areheld in aligned, horizontal position on a fixture that may be rotated onits horizontal axis. Their end caps may be slightly spaced apart as hereindicated; or optionally they may be jammed together. In either event,while they are thus aligned they are strongly and permanently connectedby brazing, soldering, welding or gluing them solidly together.Alternatively: the adjacent end caps of each pair of the aligned cansare slightly apart; they are supported in small teflon-lined molds thatare horizontally and rigidly connected together, forming part of astationary fixture, with a narrow mold sealingly looping around each canjoint of the row; and epoxy or other strong cement is poured (by hand ormachinery) into the tops of the molds and between the cans. After themounds of glue, 172, have hardened, the row is taken from the fixture.If the cans are brazed, welded or soldered together the jig holding themhorizontally aligned is preferably turned beneath the union-formingflame or electric heat by an automatically operated electric motor.

Each of the vehicles shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIGS. 13 and 14preferably comprises a plurality of balloons, 174, in the upper part ofa load carrying space. In FIG. 2, such balloons optionally may also belocated in the tops of spaces 7. Although they may be spherical, theypreferably comprise round-ended cylindrical, lightweight envelopes ofballoon cloth, plastic or the like, containing helium or hydrogen mixedwith a small percentage of combustion-inhibiting gas. Preferably theyare much shorter than the fore-and-aft length of the vehicle, with aplurality of the cylindrical envelopes arranged in end-to-end relationin a row extending from the bow to the stern. These vehicle-stabilizingballoons lessen the tendency of the craft to roll and pitch in waves orair turbulence.

For amphibious or ice-traversing use of the vehicle, a wheel or skid maybe mounted in or on the lower part of each of the floats.

Within the scope of the subjoined claims, various changes may be made inthe specific disclosed structure. For instance, the middle portions ofthe outer sidewalls of the vehicle may be parallel and straight, insteadof curved as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 13; and in this event, the stem ispreferably still pointed and streamlined. More room in the craft isobtained by this change.

In the claims: the word can" is used to signify any sealed, elongated orshort, tubular article of any cross-sectional shape or material; theword stucco to mean cement that is mixed or unmixed with aggregate,whether the cement that is Portland cement, epoxy or other resinous gluemixed with powder or other aggregate, epoxy or other putty, or the like;the word upright signifies substantially vertical or slanting; andunless qualified the word "gas" means pure gas or any mixture of gases,and the term foamed plastic" signifies any synthetic or latex-containingfoamed plastic.

1 claim:

1. A vehicle adapted to traverse water comprising:

deck structure having an upper load-supporting surface;

sidewalls, each of which comprises: a plurality of sealed, upright,vehicle-strength-providing, juxtaposed cans; means, comprising skinstructure, holding said cans in vehicle-strength-providing relation toeach other and to said deck structure; and gas-cell-containing foamedplastic in contact with said skin structure and with said cans; and

vehicle-floating means, fastened to lower portions of said deckstructure, comprising: float-wall rows of sealed, uprightend-to-end-joined, vehicle-strength-providing float cans; means holdingsaid float cans in strengthproviding, end-to-end relation; attachingmeans on said deck structure strongly connecting it with upper ends ofsaid float-wall rows of cans; float-bottom means strongly connecting thelower ends of said float-wall rows of cans; outer, waterproof float-skinmeans, exterior of said float cans, forming outer surfaces of saidfloating means; and gas-cell-containing foamed plastic, in contact withsaid float-skin means and with float cans.

2. A vehicle as set forthin claim 1, in which:

each of said float cans has a curved tubular wall, and an end cap fixedto each end portion of said curved wall and indented toward the centerof the can from one of its ends, thus forming an end recess;

each of said float-wall rows comprises float cans having juxtaposed endcaps and recesses of different areas, with smaller-area caps fitting inlarger-area recesses; and

said means holding said float cans in end-to-end relation comprisesstrong bonding material within larger-area recesses and betweenjuxtaposed end caps of said different areas.

3. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which:

each of said float cans has a curved wall and an end cap fixed to eachend portion of said curved wall;

in each of said float-wall rows, each pair of said end-to-endjoinedfloat cans has closely juxtaposed end caps of substantially equal areas;and

said means holding said float cans in end-to-end relation comprisesbonding material strongly uniting and holding together said closelyjuxtaposed end caps.

4. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which:

each of said float cans comprises a tubular wall and an end cap fixed toeach end portion of said wall; and

said attaching means comprises, in association with each of saidfloat-wall rows, a tie element having a screwthreaded end;

means strongly connecting said tie element to a can-end cap at an end ofthe row;

apertured means in said deck member for reception of said screw-threadedend; and means tightly fitted on said screw-threaded end for drawing itsassociated float-wall row into tight, strength-providing contact withsaid deck structure.

5. A vehicle as set forth in claim 4, in which:

each of said float cans comprises a tubular wall and an end cap fixed toeach end portion of said wall;

said vehicle comprises, in association with each of said float-wallrows, an elongated tie member that passes thru end caps of the cans ofthe row;

said tie element is the upper, screw-threaded end of said tie member;and Y said float-bottom means comprises: a lower tie element, forming alower, screw-threaded end of each of said tie members; and meansstrongly holding said tie member and its associated float-wall row inrelation to said floatbottom means.

6. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which said float cans havecorrugated, tubular walls.

7. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which at least some of saidfloat cans comprise:

elongated, imperforate, corrugated tubes of dense, strengthprovidingmaterial: and in which said vehicle comprises:

bonding means. comprising material that is in flowing condition when putin place and is solid after it sets. strongly and sealingly uniting endsof said corrugated tubes with said deck structure; and closure meanssealing! closing other ends of said tubes.

spaced from said deck structure. 8. A vehicle as set forth in claim 7.in which at least some of said upright. vehicle-strength-providing canscomprise:

elongated. irnperforate. corrugated tubes of dense. strengthprovidingmaterial; and in which said vehicle comprises; bonding means. comprisingmaterial that is in flowing condition when put in place and is solidafter it sets,

strongly and sealingly uniting ends of said corrugated tubes with saiddeck structure; and

closure means sealingly closing other ends of said tubes,

spaced from said deck structure. 9. A vehicle as set forth in claim I,in which said float cans contain gas under pressure above that of theatmosphere.

A vehicle as set forth m claim 1, in which each of said cans containsgas under pressure above that of the atmosphere.

l I A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, comprising: 7 forward, after andtop structures, strongly connected to said sidewalls. providinginclosed, load-containing space; and

inside said space. balloon means, comprising lighter-thanair gas.floating up against said top structure, exerting lifting force on it andon said vehicle. 12. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which saidfloat bottom means comprises a lower portion, having a bottom,fluidcontacting surface which in cross sections normal to the vehicle'slongitudinal axis has lines that are athwart a vertical plane thru saidaxis, said surface having angles of attack on relatively moving fluidwhen the vehicle is underway and thus exerting lifting force on thefloat-bottom means and vehicle.

13. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, comprising:vehicle-strength-providing top structure, having portions ofconsiderable area that contact and make angles with relatively movingfluid when the vehicle is underway, thus exerting lifting force on thetop structure and vehicle; and

means strongly connecting said top structure to said sidewalls.

14. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which said vehiclefloatingmeans comprises three floats, each of which is strongly attached to saiddeck structure and comprises a group of said float-wall rows, attachingmeans, float-bottom means, float-skin means, and foamed plastic.

A vehicle as set forth in claim 14, in which two of said floats are inside parts of the vehicle, and the third float is in an after part ofthe vehicle andhas a longitudinal axis substantially in an upright planethat contains the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

16 A vehicle as set forth in claim 15, in which:

said third float extends from the bow portion of the vehicle to itsstern portion and has a bottom that is spaced from said deck structureby a distance that is greater than that between the deck structure andthe bottommost surfaces of the floats in said side parts.

17 A vehicle as set forth in claim 16, in which said bottommost surfacesof the two side floats make angles of attack on fluid flowing 0 er themwhen the erting lifting force on the vehicle.

18. A vehicle as set forth in claim 17. in which said bottom of the saidthird float has a lower surface that is inclined to the direction of thefluid flowing over it when the vehicle is in .forward motion. thusexerting lifting force on the vehicle.

19 A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which said vehiclefloatingmeans comprises a float on each side of said vehicle, comprising a groupof said float-wall rows, attaching means, float-bottom means, float-skinmeans and foamed plastic, constructed and arranged to provide a pointedfloat bow, a pointed float stern. a curved float sidewall on the side ofthe float that is farther from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, anda flat, largely planar, upright sidewall on the side of the float thatis nearer to said axis.

vehicle is underway, thus ex- 20. Vehicular structure comprising avehicle-strength providing row of scaled, end-to-end-joir'ied cans ofdifferent sizes, having difierent cross-sectional areas, said rowcomprising a plurality of pairs of end-joined cans of said differentcross-sectional areas. each of these pairs having a smaller canend capof one of the cans of smaller size in juxtaposition with a largercan-end cap of one of the larger-size cans; gaseous material in saidcans; and means holding said cans in strengthproviding, end-to-endrelation.

21. Vehicular structure as set forth in claim 20, in which:

each of said cans has a curved tubular wall, and an end cap fixed toeach end of said tubular wall and indented toward the center of the canfrom one of its ends, thus forming an end recess; said row comprisescans having juxtaposed end caps and recesses of different areas, withsmaller-area caps fitting in larger-area recesses; and I said meansholding said cans in strength-providing relation comprises strongbonding material within larger-area recesses and betw een juxtaposed endcaps of different areas. i

22. Vehicular structure as set forth in claim 20, in which:

each of said cans has a curved tubular wall and an end cap fixed to eachend portion of said tubular wall;

each adjoining pair of said cans has closely juxtaposed end caps ofsubstantially equal areas; and

said means holding said cans in strength-providing relation 7 comprisesbonding material, strongly joining and holding together said closelyjuxtaposed end caps.

23. Vehicular structure comprising a vehicle-strength providing rowofsealed, end-to-end-joined cans, each of said cans comprising a tubularwall and an end cap fixed to each end portion of said wall; i

said structure comprising, in association with said row, a tie elementhaving a screw-threaded end, and means strongly connecting said tieelement to a can-end cap at an end of the row.

24. Structure as set forth in claim 23, in which said means connectingsaid tie element to a can-end cap comprises strong bonding material.

25. Structure as set forth in claim material comprises glue.

26. Structure as set forth in claim 23, in which each of said end capshas a hole thru its middle portion, said structure comprising: a secondtie element; means connecting it to a can-end cap at the end of said rowopposite to the first-named row end; and an intermediate, slender,tension-resisting element, extending thru end-cap holes, joined to endsof said pair of tie elements.

27. Structure as set forthin claim 26, in which said tie elements andtension-resisting element are integral and form a screw-threaded rodextending thru said end-cap holes, and said means connecting said tieelements to can-end caps comprises a nut on said screw-threaded end.

28. Structure as set forth in claim 20, in which each of said canscomprises a curved tubular wall and end caps, and in which said meansholding said cans in end-to-end relation comprises bonding materialbetween and strongly uniting each adjoining pair of said can-end caps.

29. Structure as set forth in claim 28, in which said bonding materialcomprises strong glue.

30. Structure as set forth in claim 20,in which said gaseous materialcomprises lighter-than-air gas.

31. Structure as set forth in claim 20, in which said gaseous materialcomprises gas-cell-containing foamed plastic.

32. Structure as set forth in claim 20, further comprising:

at least one other row of scaled, end-to-end-joined cans,

placed alongside said first-named row, gaseous material in saidlast-named cans; means holding said last-named cans instrength-providing, end-to-end relation; a vehiclestrength-providingsheetlike, apertured element on each side of said side-by-side rows; andat least one tie member extending thru holes in said sheetlike elementsand between said rows of cans, strongly holding said cans against saidelement.

24, in which said bonding waterproof float-skin means. exterior of saidfloat cans. forming outer surfaces of said floating means; and foamedplastic. in contact with said float-skin means and with float cans.

34. Structure as set forth in claim 33. in which said float canscomprise elongated tubes 35 Structure as set forth in claim 33, in whichsaid float cans comprise tubes having corrugated walls.

1. A vehicle adapted to traverse water comprising: deck structure havingan upper load-supporting surface; sidewalls, each of which comprises: aplurality of sealed, upright, vehicle-strength-providing, juxtaposedcans; means, comprising skin structure, holding said cans invehiclestrength-providing relation to each other and to said deckstructure; and gas-cell-containing foamed plastic in contact with saidskin structure and with said cans; and vehicle-floating means, fastenedto lower portions of said deck structure, comprising: float-wall rows ofsealed, upright endto-end-joined, vehicle-strength-providing float cans;means holding said float cans in strength-providing, end-to-endrelation; attaching means on said deck structure strongly connecting itwith upper ends of said float-wall rows of cans; float-bottom meansstrongly connecting the lower ends of said float-wall rows of cans;outer, waterproof float-skin means, exterior of said float cans, formingouter surfaces of said floating means; and gas-cell-containing foamedplastic, in contact with said float-skin means and with float cans.
 2. Avehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which: each of said float cans has acurved tubular wall, and an end cap fixed to each end portion of saidcurved wall and indented toward the center of the can from one of itsends, thus forming an end recess; each of said float-wall rows comprisesfloat cans having juxtaposed end caps and recesses of different areas,with smaller-area caps fitting in larger-area recesses; and said meansholding said float cans in end-to-end relation comprises strong bondingmaterial within larger-area recesses and between juxtaposed end caps ofsaid different areas.
 3. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which:each of said float cans has a curved wall and an end cap fixed to eachend portion of said curved wall; in each of said float-wall rows, eachpair of said end-to-end-joined float cans has closely juxtaposed endcaps of substantially equal areas; and said means holding said floatcans in end-to-end relation comprises bonding material strongly unitingand holding together said closely juxtaposed end caps.
 4. A vehicle asset forth in claim 1, in which: each of said float cans comprises atubular wall and an end cap fixed to each end portion of said wall; andsaid attaching means comprises, in association with each of saidfloat-wall rows, a tie element having a screw-threaded end; meansstrongly connecting said tie element to a can-end cap at an end of therow; apertured means in said deck member for reception of saidscrew-threaded end; and means tightly fitted on said screw-threaded endfor drawing its associated float-wall row into tight, strength-providingcontact with said deck structure.
 5. A vehicle as set forth in claim 4,in which: each of said float cans comprises a tubular wall and an endcap fixed to each end portion of said wall; said vehicle comprises, inassociation with each of said float-wall rows, an elongated tie memberthat passes thru end caps of the cans of the rOw; said tie element isthe upper, screw-threaded end of said tie member; and said float-bottommeans comprises: a lower tie element, forming a lower, screw-threadedend of each of said tie members; and means strongly holding said tiemember and its associated float-wall row in relation to saidfloat-bottom means.
 6. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which saidfloat cans have corrugated, tubular walls.
 7. A vehicle as set forth inclaim 1, in which at least some of said float cans comprise: elongated,imperforate, corrugated tubes of dense, strength-providing material: andin which said vehicle comprises: bonding means, comprising material thatis in flowing condition when put in place and is solid after it sets,strongly and sealingly uniting ends of said corrugated tubes with saiddeck structure; and closure means sealingly closing other ends of saidtubes, spaced from said deck structure.
 8. A vehicle as set forth inclaim 7, in which at least some of said upright,vehicle-strength-providing cans comprise: elongated, imperforate,corrugated tubes of dense, strength-providing material; and in whichsaid vehicle comprises: bonding means, comprising material that is inflowing condition when put in place and is solid after it sets, stronglyand sealingly uniting ends of said corrugated tubes with said deckstructure; and closure means sealingly closing other ends of said tubes,spaced from said deck structure.
 9. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1,in which said float cans contain gas under pressure above that of theatmosphere.
 10. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which each of saidcans contains gas under pressure above that of the atmosphere.
 11. Avehicle as set forth in claim 1, comprising: forward, after and topstructures, strongly connected to said sidewalls, providing inclosed,load-containing space; and inside said space, balloon means, comprisinglighter-than-air gas, floating up against said top structure, exertinglifting force on it and on said vehicle.
 12. A vehicle as set forth inclaim 1, in which said float bottom means comprises a lower portion,having a bottom, fluid-contacting surface which in cross sections normalto the vehicle''s longitudinal axis has lines that are athwart avertical plane thru said axis, said surface having angles of attack onrelatively moving fluid when the vehicle is underway and thus exertinglifting force on the float-bottom means and vehicle.
 13. A vehicle asset forth in claim 1, comprising: vehicle-strength-providing topstructure, having portions of considerable area that contact and makeangles with relatively moving fluid when the vehicle is underway, thusexerting lifting force on the top structure and vehicle; and meansstrongly connecting said top structure to said sidewalls.
 14. A vehicleas set forth in claim 1, in which said vehicle-floating means comprisesthree floats, each of which is strongly attached to said deck structureand comprises a group of said float-wall rows, attaching means,float-bottom means, float-skin means, and foamed plastic.
 15. A vehicleas set forth in claim 14, in which two of said floats are in side partsof the vehicle, and the third float is in an after part of the vehicleand has a longitudinal axis substantially in an upright plane thatcontains the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
 16. A vehicle as setforth in claim 15, in which: said third float extends from the bowportion of the vehicle to its stern portion and has a bottom that isspaced from said deck structure by a distance that is greater than thatbetween the deck structure and the bottommost surfaces of the floats insaid side parts.
 17. A vehicle as set forth in claim 16, in which saidbottommost surfaces of the two side floats make angles of attack onfluid flowing over them when the vehicle is underway, thus exertinglifting force on the vehicle.
 18. A vehicle as set forth in claim 17, inwhich said bottom of the sAid third float has a lower surface that isinclined to the direction of the fluid flowing over it when the vehicleis in forward motion, thus exerting lifting force on the vehicle.
 19. Avehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which said vehicle-floating meanscomprises a float on each side of said vehicle, comprising a group ofsaid float-wall rows, attaching means, float-bottom means, float-skinmeans and foamed plastic, constructed and arranged to provide a pointedfloat bow, a pointed float stern, a curved float sidewall on the side ofthe float that is farther from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, anda flat, largely planar, upright sidewall on the side of the float thatis nearer to said axis.
 20. Vehicular structure comprising avehicle-strength providing row of sealed, end-to-end-joined cans ofdifferent sizes, having different cross-sectional areas, said rowcomprising a plurality of pairs of end-joined cans of said differentcross-sectional areas, each of these pairs having a smaller can-end capof one of the cans of smaller size in juxtaposition with a largercan-end cap of one of the larger-size cans; gaseous material in saidcans; and means holding said cans in strength-providing, end-to-endrelation.
 21. Vehicular structure as set forth in claim 20, in which:each of said cans has a curved tubular wall, and an end cap fixed toeach end of said tubular wall and indented toward the center of the canfrom one of its ends, thus forming an end recess; said row comprisescans having juxtaposed end caps and recesses of different areas, withsmaller-area caps fitting in larger-area recesses; and said meansholding said cans in strength-providing relation comprises strongbonding material within larger-area recesses and between juxtaposed endcaps of different areas.
 22. Vehicular structure as set forth in claim20, in which: each of said cans has a curved tubular wall and an end capfixed to each end portion of said tubular wall; each adjoining pair ofsaid cans has closely juxtaposed end caps of substantially equal areas;and said means holding said cans in strength-providing relationcomprises bonding material, strongly joining and holding together saidclosely juxtaposed end caps.
 23. Vehicular structure comprising avehicle-strength providing row of sealed, end-to-end-joined cans, eachof said cans comprising a tubular wall and an end cap fixed to each endportion of said wall; said structure comprising, in association withsaid row, a tie element having a screw-threaded end, and means stronglyconnecting said tie element to a can-end cap at an end of the row. 24.Structure as set forth in claim 23, in which said means connecting saidtie element to a can-end cap comprises strong bonding material. 25.Structure as set forth in claim 24, in which said bonding materialcomprises glue.
 26. Structure as set forth in claim 23, in which each ofsaid end caps has a hole thru its middle portion, said structurecomprising: a second tie element; means connecting it to a can-end capat the end of said row opposite to the first-named row end; and anintermediate, slender, tension-resisting element, extending thru end-capholes, joined to ends of said pair of tie elements.
 27. Structure as setforth in claim 26, in which said tie elements and tension-resistingelement are integral and form a screw-threaded rod extending thru saidend-cap holes, and said means connecting said tie elements to can-endcaps comprises a nut on said screw-threaded end.
 28. Structure as setforth in claim 20, in which each of said cans comprises a curved tubularwall and end caps, and in which said means holding said cans inend-to-end relation comprises bonding material between and stronglyuniting each adjoining pair of said can-end caps.
 29. Structure as setforth in claim 28, in which said bonding material comprises strong glue.30. Structure as set forth in claim 20, in which said gaseous materialcomprises lighter-than-air gas.
 31. Structure as set forth in claim 20,in which said gaseous material comprises gas-cell-containing foamedplastic.
 32. Structure as set forth in claim 20, further comprising: atleast one other row of sealed, end-to-end-joined cans, placed alongsidesaid first-named row; gaseous material in said last-named cans; meansholding said last-named cans in strength-providing, end-to-end relation;a vehicle-strength-providing sheetlike, apertured element on each sideof said side-by-side rows; and at least one tie member extending thruholes in said sheetlike elements and between said rows of cans, stronglyholding said cans against said element.
 33. A vehicle, adapted totraverse water, comprising: cabin structure having load-supportingmeans, and sidewall members comprising a plurality of juxtaposed,vehicle-strength-providing elements and means strongly holding saidelements together; and vehicle floating means, connected to saidsidewalls, comprising: float-wall rows of upright,vehicle-strength-providing float cans; gaseous material in said can;means connecting said cans together and to said sidewall members;waterproof float-skin means, exterior of said float cans, forming outersurfaces of said floating means; and foamed plastic, in contact withsaid float-skin means and with float cans.
 34. Structure as set forth inclaim 33, in which said float cans comprise elongated tubes. 35.Structure as set forth in claim 33, in which said float cans comprisetubes having corrugated walls.